Rolling-mill catcher



March 25, 1924. 11,487,819

7 c. STEELE ROLLING MILL CATCHER Filed May 5 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet [AW/Emmi C 57ZZZY; ZU

March 25 1924.

L c. STEELE ROLLING MILL CATCHER Filed May 5. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet Z March 25 1924.

L. C. STEELE ROLLING MILL CATCHER Filed May 5 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 25 1924. 1,487,8'1192 L. c. STEELE ROLLING MILL CATCHER Filed May n 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 [were @21- ZAWEf/VCZ' C 57422 5., Zy-

March 25 1924.

L. C. STEELE ROLLING MILL CATCHER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 1922 [AW/awa- C 57:22:;

Fatented Mar. 25, W24

entrain stares MWMQ PATENT @FFHGE.

ROLLING-MILL CATCHER.

Application filed May 5,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I,LAWRENCE C. STEELE, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rolling-Mill Catchers, of which the followin is a specification.

his invention appertains to rolling mills,

of the class used in rolling sheets and plates and particularly relates to the provision of novel means whereby material being rolled, either single pieces or in packs, is mechanically handled or manipulated during the rolling operations, transferring or returning the material from the receiving or catchers side of the mill to the opposite or rollers side thereof, into position to be again passed between the rolls for further reduction or rolling of the material.

One object of my invention is the provision, for'use with sheet and tin plate rolling mills, of a mechanical catcher or catching mechanism, having-novel means whereby the metal or pack of metal being rolled is mechanically handled or manipulated on the delivery or catchers side of the mill as it issues from between the rolls and is automatically engaged and transferred by the catcher mechanism, from the catchers side to the opposite or rollers side of the mill, into position to be again entered between the rolls after each of the succession of 'passes or rolling operations, to which the metal or metal pack is subjected, in reducing or rollin the metal to gage and elongating it to t e desired length.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an automatic catcher which is adapted to mechanically manipulate the metal on the delivery or catchers-side of the mill while the rolling operation is in progress and, at the completion of the rolling operation, to automatically transfer the rolled material to the rear end of the catcher mechanism, into position to be removed therefrom.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a mechanical catcher having means whereby the catcher mechanism is automatically actuated and its series of-successive movements in handling the metal being rolled is caused to follow, one after another. in timed relation and predetermined sequence.

With these and other jects in view, the

1922. Serial No. 558,580.

invention consists in the novel constructions, arrangements and combination of parts shown by the drawings, 0 be full described hereinafter, and to be particu arly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan of an automatic catcher embodying the novel feature of my invention, and a mill to which the catcher is applied for use, the wheeled platform and other supporting structure, which is clearly illustrated in the other figures of the drawing, being omitted for the sake of clearness.

Figure 2 isa side elevation, partly in section, the driving chains on the near side of the catching mechanism being omitted for the sake of clearness, shown in lowered position to receive the metal or pack upon issuing from between the reducing rolls of the rolling mill.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 (with the driving chains on the near side in place), showing the catcher mechanism in the raised position into which it is lifted or swung in delivering the metal or metal pack over the roll of the mill into position to be seized by the roller on the entering or roller side of a rolling mill.

Figure 4 is a sectional end elevation ofthe apparatus of Figures 1, 2 and 3, with the swinging arm or carrier of the catcher extending lengthwisevertically, the section being taken on the line IV-lV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation, on a larger scale, showing details in the construction of the guide and arm locking mechanisms as located adjacent to the reducing rolls of the rolling mill.

In the accompanying drawings, my novel catcher mechanism, designated in a general way by the letter A, is shown applied for use with and in operative position relative to a two-high hot mill B. The hot mill B, which is of a standard construction used in hot rolling sheets and tin plates, com-- bottom roll 2) is operatively connected by a coupling to one end of a roll driving spindle, which in turn is rotatably connected to an engine, electric motor or other prime mover. The rolling mill, itself, not forming part of my invention is not shown nor described in detail, but only as a unit, to which my improved mechanical catcher is applicable.

The automatic catcher A is located on the discharge or catchers side of the mill B, in position to receive metal being rolled as it emerges from between the reducing rolls 2 and 3, the front or mill end of'the catcher extending between the sides of the roll housings 8 and 9 into the desired proximity to the rolls 2 and 3 of the mill. (See Figures 2 and 5.)

The catcher A has a wheeled platform formed of channel beams, the longitudinal beams 11 being rigidly connected at the ends and at intermediate points in the length thereof by a series of transversely extending channel beams 12. The beams 11 are arranged in pairs, and supportedly connected to the beams between the adjoining web faces of each of the two pairs of beams 11 are supports 13 for the ends of axles or shafts 14 on which the track wheels 15 of the platform are secured. The track wheels 15 are. adapted to run on the paralleltrack rails 16, 16, which extend lengthwise away from the mill B on the rear or catchers' side thereof, at about the floor level of the mill. The platform formed of the beams 11 and 12 is mounted on the track rails so as to permit the catcher to be readily moved backwardly out of operative position, when necessitated by a roll change or for other reason, and as readily moved forwardly into operative position.

Mounted on the platform and extending upwardly at each side thereof arebearing stands or pedestals 17 and 18 and rotatably secured in bearings formed in the upper end of these stands is a horizontal shaft 19. The shaft 19, which is positively rotated, as will be explained, extends lengthwise across the width of the platform and is provided near one end with a spur gear 20, and on its opposite, overhangingend, is a friction clutch which is of an old and approved construction designated generally by the letter D. The driven spur gear 20, which actuates the rotary shaft 19, meshes with a. driving spur pinion 22 that is keyed or otherwise fastened on a countershaft 23, this countershaft being rotatablymounted in suitable bearings 24, 25 on the bearing stand .17. The shaft 23 also has a spur gear 26 thereon meshing with a spur gear 27 which is keyed or fastened on a sprocket wheel'shaft 28 that is mounted in bearings29, 30 on the bearing stand 17. One end of the countershaft 23 has a driven spur gear 31 thereon which is connected by a driving chain 32 to the spur pinion 33 on the armature shaft 34 of variale speed electric driving motor 35, the motor 35 being mounted on the wheeled platform of-the catcher A. The other end of the countershaft 23 has a sprocket wheel 36 thereon and the shaft 28 has a series of three sprocketwheels 37, 38 and 39 thereon.

A balanced carrier, designated as a whole by the letter C, is rotatably mounted on the horizontal, ositively driven shaft 19 so as to permit of its remaining stationary while the shaft 19 is revolving and, at desired intervals, to turn with, or more exactly stated, to be turned by the shaft 19, to lift the metal being rolled from the position shown in Figure 2 into that shown by Figure 3.

The carrier 0 comprises a sleeve or spool '40 provided with endflanges 41 and 42, pairs of oppositely projecting arms 43 and 44, 46 and 47, sprocket wheels 48, 49, 50 and 51 on the outer ends of the arms 43, 44, 46 and 47, an endless sprocket chain 52 which extends aroundthe sprocket wheels 48 and 49 on the outer ends of the arms 43 and 44 and on endless sprocket chain 53'which extends around the sprocket wheels 50 and 51 on the outer ends of the arms 46 and 47. The outer end of each of the arms is provided with a sprocket bearing 54 in which one of the sprocket Wheels 48, 49, 50 or 51 is mounted. The inner ends of the arms 43, 44, 46'and 47 are rigidly fastened each to a lug or ear 55 that projects outwardly from the sides of the flanges 41, 42 of thesleeve or spool 40.

It will be noted that the arms 43 and 44 extend lengthwise outwardly or away opposite directions, from the sleeve 40 and at right angles to the axis of rotation of the sleeve 40 and shaft 19, on which the sleeve is mounted, and that. the arms 46 and 47 len hwise are parallel to the arms 43, 44.

l hen assembled the carrier somewhat resembles the capital letter H in outline, the oppositely extending arms 43 and 44 forming one stem, the oppositely extending arms 46 and 47 the other, and the sleeve or s 001 40the connecting bar of the H. (See igure 4.)

The barrel portion of the carrier spool 40 forms a cage for the series of anti-friction rollers 57, 57 formin a bearing through which the drive shaft 19 extends. The rollers 57, however, ride on asleeve which projects through the spool 40 and forms a quill or hollow shaft 58 having sprocket wheels 59 and 60 keyed or otherwise fastened thereon so as to rotate with the quill 58. The sprocket wheels 59 and 60 abut the flanged ends of the spool 40 and serve to drive the endless chains 52 and 53 which extend around the sprocket wheels 48, 49 and 50, 51

on the outer ends of the arms 43, 44 and arms 46, 47 of the carrier. The quill 58 also has a sprocket wheel 61 on 'one end by which it is positively rotated by means of the sprocket chain'62. A collar 63 on the shaft 19 engages the hub of the sprocket wheel 61 and one end of the quill 58 and the other end of the quill engages the hub 64 of the spider 65 on the opposite side of the carrier C. The. spider 65 has arms 66, with feet or lugs 67 on the outer ends thereof, by which the spider is operatively connected to the flange on one side of the spool 40. The hub 64 extends through the bearing and is operatively connected by means of a helical spring 68 to the driven member 69 of the friction clutch D. a

The driven member 70 of this clutch is keyed to one end of the shaft 19 so as to be driventhereby when the shaft 19 is rotated, the shaft 19 projecting through the hub 64 of the carrier turning spider 65 to enable the friction clutch D to be mounted thereon. The clutch D has the usual toggle connection by which the degree of friction put thereon is regulated and controlled and in this case, as the shaft 19 is constantly rotated while the carrier C is'only rotated intermittently through the medium of the clutch D, provision is made for yieldingly holding the fric tion disks of the clutch in frictional engagement and for adjusting the clutch members so that when the carrier is held against rota tion the clutch will slip, but when released it will quickly respond to the action of the clutch and turn with the shaft 19 until again retarded, as is done in operating my improved catcher.

A pair of forward upright supporting members 71 and a pair of rear upright supporting members 72 are secured to the opposite ends of the catcher platform.

A pair of pinch rollers 73, 74 are journaled in suitable bearings 75 and 76, respectively, on the forward supports 71 to re ceive the plates as they emerge from the rolls 2 and 3 of the mill. The rollers 73 and 74 are geared together by gears 77 and 78 and the lower roller 73 is provided with a driving sprocket 79 adapted to be driven by a chain 80 which is trained over the sprocket 79 and a sprocket 38 on the shaft 28. The upper roller 7 8 is also provided with sprockets 81 adjacent each end which have chains 82 trained'under them and over pairs of sprockets 83, 84 mounted on shafts 83 -84 journaled in suitable bracket bearings 85, 86 secured to the forward upright supports 71.

The catcher platform is provided with a plurality of rearwardly and upwardly inclined skid bars 87 adapted to support the plates as they are moved rearwardly through the catcher.

A pair of adjustable guide fingers 83, 89 are 1505 i3 mounted on transverse shafts 90 and 91, respectively, which are journaled in suitable bearingson the upright supports 71. The fingers 88, 89 serve to support the The carrier C is normally locked in position below the skid bars 87 when plates are between the pinch rollers 73, 74 and is automatically released when the plates have passed through said rollers. A pair of catches or locking members 92 are keyed or otherwise secured to a transverse shaft 93 journaled in uprights 94 on the platform of the catcher. A lever 95 has one end keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 93 and has its other end pivotally secured to the lower end of a link 96, which has its upper end pivotally' connected 'to the free end of a lever 97 which has its other end keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 90. .7

An operating lever 98 has one end keyed to the shaft 90 and its other end extends into the path of travel of the plates as tlfey pass into the bite of the pinch rollers 73, 74 so that as the plates pass into the bite of the rollers 73, 74 they will raise the lever 98 and rock shaft 90 so as to raise the lever 97, link 96, and lever 95, thereby rocking the shaft 93 clockwise and moving the catches 92 forward so as to engage the carrier C, and hold it stationaryv As the plates emerge from the pinch rollers 73, 74 the lever 98 will drop against the bottom pinch roller, thus rocking the shaft 90 so as to lower the lever 97, link 96, and lever 95, thereby rocking the shaft 93 counterclockwise, and m'oving the catches 92 rearward so as to release the carrier C, thus permitting it to rotate and lift the plates upwardly against conveying chains The chains 99 and 100 are trained over sprockets 101, 102 and 103, 104, respectively, which are secured to suitable shafts 105, 106 and 107 mount'sd in underhung bearings secured to the under side of channel supporting members 109 and 110.

The channels 109 and 110 have their forward ends supported on the forward uprights 71 and their rear ends supported by brace members 111 which are secured to the tween the sprockets 83, 8% is parallel with and directly below the chains 99 and 100, and forms a bottom support for the plates,

, That is, the carrier G forces the plates up which are moved forward by the action of the chains 52 and 53 against their lower faces and the action of chains 99and 100 against their upper faces. The operation of these chains is similar to pinch rollers.

against the chains 99 and 100 and the surfaces of the chains in contact with the plates are all moving forward. Therefore, the plates will be moved forward between the chains 82, 99 and 100, which operate ina.

similar manner to feed the plates over the top roll.

A pair of rear pinch rollers 115, 116 are journaled in suitable bearing brackets '11? on the rear upright supports 7 2. The rollers 115, 116 are geared together so as to be both positively driven, and the lower roller is provided with a sprocket 118 connected by chain 119 to driving sprocket 39 on the Shaft 28.

An intermediate set of pinch rollers 120 and 121 are provided intermediate the length of the skid rails or bars 87 adapted to engage the plates after they have been rolled to a predetermined length, and to feed the plates rearwardly into engagement with the rollers 115, 116. The upper one of the intermediate pinch r o l le 1 s 120, is journaled in suitable bearings 122 on the lower end of a reciprocable. supporting bar 123 mounted for reciprocation on a longitudinal centrally disposed supporting bar 124 supported at its rear end on a transverse support 125 extending between the rear uprights 72 and supported at its forward end on the transverse shaft 105. of the bar 123 is pivotally connected to one end of a rocking lever 126 pivoted intermediate its ends on a bracket support 127 and having a counterweight 128 on its other end. The lever 126 is provided intermediate its ends with an upwardly projecting tongue or arm 129 which is pivotally connected to one end of an operating bar- 130 which has its other end pivotally connected to one arm of a crank lever 131 pivotally mounted on a bracket 132 extending upwardly from the support 125. The other arm of the crank lever 131 is pivotally connected to one end,

of a second operating bar 133 which has its other or lower end pivotally connected to a rocking lever 134 pivotally secured-intermediate its ends on a short upright stand 135 secured to the carrier platform and having its other end pivotally connected to the plunger rod 136 of an operating solenoid 137.

The lower one of the last mentioned pinch rollers 121 is journaled in fixed bearings 138 mounted on the lower faces of the skid bars 87 and projects slightly above the upper faces of said bars.

The pinch roller 120 is provided with a sprocket 139 which is connected to a The upper end sprocket 140 on the positively driven upper roller 116 of the rear pinch rollers by a chain 141. tel-mediate pinch rollers is provided with a sprocket 142 which is connectedto a sprocket 143- on thepositively driven lower roller 115 of the rear pinchrollers by a chain 144. It will thus be seen that the rear and intermediate pinch rollers are all positively driven and are so connected that they rotate at approximately the same speed.

A control switch 145 is mounted on the supporting bar 124 and is adapted to make and break the energizing circuit to the solenoid 137. The switch 145 may be of any well known construction and is provided with a spring trigger 146 which extends down into the path of the plates as they pass along the skid bars 87, and is adapted to be tripped and operated by the plates as they pass thereunder;

As stated before the intermediate pinch rollers 120, 121 are adapted to engage. the plates after they are rolled to a predetermined length. This is accomplished by the plates being rolled to a sufficient length to engage the trigger 146 of the switch 145, thereby operating the switch and making the energizing circuit to the solenoid 137, which will rock the lever 126 and force the top pinch roller 120 down against the plates. The intermediate pinch rollers 120 and 121 have sufficient bite to overcome the pull of the chains 99 and 100 and-chains52 and 53 011 the carrier-in the opposite direction, and so will feed the plates rearwardly into the bite of the rear pinch rollers 115 and 116, which will feed them out of the catcher.

In operation the plates are delivered from the mill to the pinch rollers 73-74 which in turn deliver them onto the skids 87 above the carrier C which is held stationary by the catches 92. When the plates have been fed through the pinch rollers 7374, the catches 92 will be automatically released and permit the carrier C to rotate upwardly or in a clockwise direction. The carrier C will lift the plates from the skids 87 and continue to rotate untilthe plates engage the chains 99 and 100, which will cause the movement of the carrier to be arrested until the plates are removed by the combined action of the chains 52-53 and 99-100. When the plates are moved from the carrier C its rotation will be continued until its movement is again arrested by the catches. During the normal operation of the mill a pack of plates will pass between the pinch rollers at such intervals that the carrier will be engaged by the catches 92 at each end, that is, at each half-revolution thereof.

When the plates have been rolled to a length sufficient to operate the trigger 146, which causes the pinch rollers 120121 to The lower roller 121 of the inengage the plates and move them rearwardlib ly, the movement of the carrier will be precisely as described above. That is, the plates will be forced up against the chains 99 and arrest the movement of the carrier until the plates are moved from under the chains, when the movement will be continued until the carrier is again engaged by the catches 92, which, under normal operation of the mill, will be at each half revolution of the carrier.

While I have .shown and described the carrier C as having conveying chains 52 and 53 thereon, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto since either driven or idler rollers may be substituted therefor if desired, without materially altering the operation or construction thereof.

It will also be understood that various other changes in design, construction, arrangement and combination of parts may be made without departing from the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

Throughout the claims the term sheets is used to describe the articles handled by the catcher, and it Will be expressly understood that said term is meant to include tin plates, steel plates, or.. any other flat articles capable ofbeing handled by the catcher.

I claim 1. A rolling mill catcher for sheets comprising stationary sheet supporting means, means for receiving the sheets from the mill and deliver them onto said supporting means, means for elevating said sheets to a point above the top roll of the mill, means for conveying sheets short of a predetermined length forwardly over the mill, and

means for conveying sheets beyond a predetermined length rearwardly away from said catcher.

2. A rolling mill catcher for sheets comprising stationary sheet supporting means, means. for receiving the sheets from the mill and deliver them onto said supportingv means, a rotary carrier adapted to engage said sheets after they have passed through said receiving means and to elevate said sheets to a point above the top roll of the mill, conveying means on said carrier, other conveying means above said sheet supporting means and in the path of travel of the sheets, said conveying means being adapted to cooperate to convey the elevated sheets forwardly over the mill.

3. A rolling mill catcher for sheets comprising stationary sheet supporting skids,

pinch rollers adapted to receive the sheets from the mill and deliver them onto said skids, means for elevating said sheets to a oint above the top roll of the mill, means or conveying sheets short of a predeterthem onto said skids, a rotary carrier adapted to elevate said sheets after they have passed out of said pinch rollers, to a point above the top roll of the mill, means for conveying sheets short of a predetermined length forwardly over the mill, and means for conveying sheets beyond a predetermined length rearwardly away from said catcher.

5. An automatic rolling mill catcher for sheets comprising a platform, a plurality of stationary skids adapted to support the sheets as they are fed onto said catcher, a pair of pinch rollers adapted to receive the sheets from the mill and deliver them onto said skids, a rotary carrier adapted to engage said sheets after they have passed through said pinch rollers and to elevate the sheets to a point above the top roll of the mill, conveyer chains on said carrier, other conveyer chains above said skids and in the path of travel of the sheets, said conveyer chains being adapted to cooperate to conve the elevated sheets forwardly over the mil 6. An automatic rolling mill catcher for sheets comprising a platform, a plurality of stationary skids adapted to support the sheets as they are fed onto said catcher, a pair of pinch rollers adapted to receive the sheets from the mill and deliver them onto said skids, a rotary carrier mounted on said platform, means for rotating said carrier, means for locking said carrier in position below said skids while the sheets are passin between said pinch rollers, said means eing adapted to automatically release said carrier when the sheets pass from between said pinch rollers to allow said carrier to rotate and elevate the sheets to a point above the top roll of the mill, conveyer chains on said carrier, other conveyer chains above said skids and in the path of travel of the sheets, said conveyer chains being adapted to cooperate to convey the elevated sheets forwardly over the mill.

7 An automatic rolling mill catcher for sheets comprising a latform, a plurality of stationary skids a a ted to support the sheets as they are fed onto said catcher, a pair of pinch rollers adapted to receive the sheets from the mill and deliver them onto said skids, a rotary carrier mounted on said platform, means for rotating said carrier, means for locking said carrier in position below said skids while the sheets are passtoo mg between said pinch rollers, said means being adapted to automatically release. said carrier when the sheets pass from between said pinch rollers to allow said carrier to rotate and elevate the sheets to a point above the top roll of the mill, means for conveying sheets short of a predetermined length forwardly over the mill, and means for conveying sheets beyond a predetermined length rearwardly away from said catcher.

8. An automatic rolling mill catcher for sheets comprising a wheeled platform, a plurality of stationary skids adapted to support the sheets as they are fed onto said catcher, pinch rollers adapted to receive the sheets from the mill and deliver them onto said skids, a rotary carrier mounted n said platform, means for rotating said carrier, means for locking said carrier in position below said skids while the sheets are passing between said pinch rollers, said means being adapted to automatically release said carrier when the sheets pass from between said pinch rollers to allow said carrier to rotate and elevate the sheets to a point above the top roll of the mill, conveyor chains on said carrier, other conveyor chains above said skids and in the path of travel of the sheets, said conveyer chains being adapted to cooperate to convey sheets short of a predetermined length forwardly over the mill, pinch rollers journaled adjacent the rear end of the mill, other pinch rollers journaled intermediate the ends of the mill, said intermediate pinch rollers being normally held inoperative, means operated by sheets beyond a predetermined length for moving said intermediate pinch rollers into operative engagement with the sheets to convey the sheets rearwardly into the bite of said pinch rollers at the rear end of the catcher, said last named rollers being adapted to convey the sheets out oil the catcher.

9. The combination with a rolling mill for rolling sheets of an automatic catcher comprising a plurality of stationary skids adapted to support the sheets as they are fed onto said catcher, a pair of pinch rollers adapted ton'eceive the sheets from the mill and deliver them onto said skids, a rotary carrier adapted te engage said sheets after they have passed through said pinch rollers and to elevate the sheets to a point above the top roll of the mill, conveyer chains on said carrier, bther conveyer chains above said skids and in the path of travel of the sheets, said conveyor chains being adapted to cooperate to convey the elevated sheets forwardly over the mill;

10. The combination with a two-high rolling mill for rolling sheets, of an automatic catcher comprising a plurality of stationary skids adapted to support the sheets as they are fed onto said catcher, pinch rollers adapted to receive the sheets from the mill and deliver them onto said skids, a rotary carrier mounted on said platform,

means for rotating said'carrier, means forv lock ng said carrier in posltion below said roll of the mill, conveyer chains on said car-- rier, other conveyer chalns above said skids and in the path of travel of the sheets, said conveyer chains being adapted to cooperate to convey sheets short of a predetermined length forwardly over the mill, pinch rollers journaled adjacent the rear end of the mill, other pinch rollers journa-led intermediate the ends of the mill, said interrmediate pinch rollers being normally held inoperative, means operated by sheets beyond a predetermined length for moving said intermediate pinch rollers into operative engagement with the sheets to convey the sheets rearwardly into the bite of said pinch rollers at the rear end of the catcher, said last named rollers being'adapted to convey the sheets out ofi the catcher 11. A rolling mill catcher for sheets, comprising stationary supporting means, and means adapted to receive the sheets from the mill and deliver the same onto said supporting means, means for elevating said sheets to apoint above the top roll of the mill, means for conveying the sheets short of a predetermined length forwardly over the mill, and means for conveying; sheets beyond a predetermined length rearwardly away from said catcher.

12. An automatic rolling mill catcher for sheets, comprising a frame, a plurality of stationary skid members adapted to support the sheets as they are fed onto said catcher, a pair of pinchrollers adapted to receive the material from the mill and deliver it on to said skids, means for elevating the sheets after they have passed out of said pinch rollers to a point above the toproll of the mill, means for conveying the sheets short of a predetermined length forwardly over the mill, and means for conveying sheets beyond a predetermined length rearwardly away from said catcher.

13. An automatic rolling mill catcher for sheets, comprising a frame, a plurality of stationary skids adapted to support the sheets as they are fed onto said catcher, means for delivering the sheets to said skids, a rotary carrier adapted to. engage said sheets after they have passed through said delivery means and to elevate the sheets to a point above the top roll of the mill, conveyor chains on said carrier, other conveyor chains above said skids and in the path of travel of the sheets, said conveyer'chains being adapted to cooperate to convey the elevated sheets forwardly over the mill.

14. An automatic rolling mill catcher for sheets, comprising a frame, a plurality of stationary skids adz ted to support the sheets as they are fed onto said catcher, a pair of pinch rollers adapted to receive the sheets from the mill and deliver them onto said skids, a rotary carrier mounted on said frame means for rotatin said carrier 1 means tor locking said carrier in position below said skids while the sheets are passed between said pinch rollers, said means being adapted to automatically release said carrier when the sheets pass from between said pinch rollers to allow said carrier to rotate and elevate the sheets to a. point above the top roll of the mill, and means for conveying said material forwardly over the mill while in its elevated position.

15. A. rolling mill catcher for sheets, comprising stationary sheet supporting means, means adapted to receive the sheets from the mill and deliver said sheets onto said supporting means, means for elevating said sheets to a point above the top roll of the mill, and means for conveying said sheets forwardly over the mill in their elevated position.

16. An automatic rolling mill catcher for sheets, comprising a platform, a plurality of stationary skids adapted to support the sheets as they are fed onto said catcher, means adapted to receive the sheets from the mill and deliver them onto said skids, a 1'0- tary carrier adapted to engage said sheets after they have passed through said means, said carrier being adapted to elevate the sheets to a point above the top roll of the mill, conveyer chains on said carrier, other conveyer chainsabove saidskids and in the path of travel ofthe sheets; said conveyor chains being adapted to cooperate to convey the elevated sheets forwardly over the mill.

17. An automatic rolling mill catcher for sheets, comprising a platform, a plurality of stationary skids adapted to support the sheets as they are fed onto said catcher, a pair of pinch rollers adapted to receive the sheets from the mill and deliver them onto said skids, a'rotary carrier mounted on said platform, means for rotating said ca-rr moans forlocking said carrier in posit below said skids while the sheets are pass ing between said pinch rollers, said means being adapted to automatically release carrier when the sheets pass from betwee. said pinch rollers to allow 7 carrier rotate and elevate the sheets a oint above the top roll oi -the mill, and veying the sheets forwardly rier over the m while said carrier its elevated position.

18, .z-ln automatic rolling mill catche sheets, comprising a platform, 1 l stationary skids adaptec sheets as they are fed onto means adapted to receive sheets fro the mill and deliver them on l" a rotary carrier adapted sheets after they have passed 1 means, said carrier being adapt the sheets to a point above the top roll of the mill, conveying means on said carrier, other conveying means above said skids,v said coni veying means being adapted to cooperate to convey the elevated sheets forwardly over the mill,

19. An automatic rolling mill catcher for sheets, comprising platform, plurality of stationary skids adapted to support the sheets as they are led onto said catcher, a pair of pinch rollers adapted to receive the sheets from the mill and deliver them onto said skids, a rotary carrier mounted on said platform, means for rotating said carrier, means for locking said carrier in position below said skids while the sheets are pas ing between said pinch rollers, said means being adapted to automatically release said carrier when" the sheets pass from between said pinch rollers to allow said carrier to rotate and elevate the sheets to a point above the top roll oi the mill, conveyer chains on said carrier, other conveyer chains above said skids and in the path of travel of the sheets, said,co1rveyer chains being adap to co-operate to convey the elevated sheets forwardly over the mill.

In testimony whereof I have my hand.

hereunto set LAWRENCE C. STEELE. 

